Kansas enters the match fresh off the biggest win in its program history, defeating then-No. 10 Iowa State 3-1 at home last Saturday. The win over ISU marked a big bounce-back for the Jayhawks, who became Texas Tech’s first conference win in over two years last Wednesday.

KU has five regulars that average at least 1.6 kills per set, led by Karina Garlington’s 3.49 and Allison Mayfield’s 2.96. The Jayhawks have split time between two setters this season, but Nicole Tate has taken over the duties full-time in conference play. Tate is averaging 9.14 assists per set for the season, but racked up 48 assists in four sets in the win over ISU.

Defensively, KU’s back row is led by libero Brianne Riley, who averages 3.89 digs per set. However, defensive specialist Melissa Manda had the biggest match of her career against ISU with 32 digs, helping her earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors. Caroline Jarmoc and Tayler Tolefee lead the KU block, each averaging just over .80 blocks per set.

THE TOP FIVE

- Baylor enters the Kansas match riding a pair of conference road victories. It marks the first consecutive Big 12 road victories since back-to-back defeats of Colorado and Texas Tech on Oct. 3rd and Oct. 7th of last season. After a three-match losing streak to start the league schedule, Baylor has won three of its last four.

- Baylor’s middle blockers stepped up in a huge way in last week’s matches. Torri Campbell, Elizabeth Graham and Briana Tolbert each put up career numbers. Campbell led BU in kills with 29, including a career-high 18 at A&M, and a .471 hitting pct. Graham had 24 kills and a .477 hitting pct., while Tolbert had 18 kills, including a career-high 11 at A&M, hitting .371.

- Baylor's defense took over the top spot in the NCAA, averaging 18.81 digs per set as a team, 0.20 more than any other Division I program. BU also leads the Big 12 by a huge margin, posting nearly three more digs per set than any Big 12 team. As a team, Baylor has racked up a league-leading 1,298 total digs on the season, 257 more than Oklahoma's second-best total.

- Baylor moved up to No. 50 in the second RPI ranking of the season. With one of the toughest schedules in program history, the Bears have held their own, with no losses to any team below them in the RPI. BU has played eight top-50 teams, including seven in the top 25. Baylor’s first three conference matches were all against RPI top-10 teams.

- The series between BU and KU has been dominated by the home team each time. Baylor has the better home record at 12-2, but KU has posted nine wins in 15 matches in Lawrence.